Broadfoot steps aside as Raiders head coach

TOOWOOMBA Raiders coach Peter Broadfoot will pass the baton to assistant Mick Turvey for the rest of the Premier League soccer season.

Broadfoot and his wife Kay recently had their second child. He said he had made it clear that his role as coach would come second to his family commitments.

While reluctant to hand over the reins earlier in the year when the Raiders were placed precariously near the relegation zone, Broadfoot said yesterday he had no choice other than to hand more responsibility to Turvey.

"I might not be able to make it to training at all, but I will still try to get to games and will be there to lend a hand as best I can," he said.

"I wasn't keen to give Mick a side in this position, but it's just physically impossible for me to keep coaching fulltime.

"Mick's ready and he wants to do it and I'll still be around to offer some of my experience."

Turvey was one of the Toowoomba Raiders' original players and previously coached the Raiders youth side to league wins and top five placings.

After a two-year break, Turvey returned to the Raiders to coach the Reserves this year and to act as Broadfoot's assistant.

While he knows he is in a caretaker role until the end of the season, Turvey said he would continue if asked.

"It all depends on what the club wants to do," he said.

"I know they'll hunt around for quality coaches and there are plenty of quality coaches around, but if I get offered the job, I'll take it."

While Turvey knows he faces a battle for the Raiders to avoid relegation, he believes they can claim three wins from their next six games.

"We've got some great kids coming through, but this year has still been a battle," he said.

"Hopefully I can get enough out of those young guys to pick up points against the likes of Mitchelton, Souths and Brisbane Wolves, because I think we can do it ? the boys just have to have some confidence in themselves."